Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 34: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

24 His lieutenant was an old man, a deputy sheriff, by the name of Jug Trilles, well versed in the ways of cattle-country living. He was a little figure, low-crouched over the withers of his pinto. He had a pair of sharp, brown eyes peering fartively from under the sombrero’s rim, a grizzled beard, and wrinkled, sharply set lips. The others were an unshaven lot of rene- gades riding with a hard hand and a rough- and-tumble saddle. All wore sombreros, bandannas to save their necks from burning and chapping, and leather or sheepskin chapareras for the rough rides of the sage- country. Three old cow-men, several cholos —half-breed Yuman and white—a Mexican by the name of Juan Scaly, and a negro: this was the crew which Taurog picked for his punitive expeditions. When they were within three miles of their destination, they were met by one of their scouts who brought news to Taurog of the conditions at the Larkey ranch. The last ranch-hand had deserted, so the scout said. ‘“* And Souse McCabe—their foreman— how about him?” Taurog asked. ‘“*'He was the first to go.” “‘He’s the only one in the whole gang that can shoot. Larkey is too old. If it’s only him and his women folk there I can’t see that we’re goin’ to have much of a fight.” “A good’ thing, chief,” little old Trilles said. ‘‘ We can’t let this fight get too spec- tacularlike. Folks up to Mule City are watchin’ you. If they’s any resistance other ranchers will begin to buck.” “Thar ain’t goin’ to be no resistance,” Smoo Taurog smiled grimly. ‘“‘T gather from one of his cow-men,”’ the scout said, ‘‘ that Ross Larkey is going to stick it out and kill any man what sets foot on his ranch.” Taurog scratched his great jaw. “ T myself ain’t going to mix in with this fight,” he said suddenly. His men who had gathered their horses in a ring about him stared open-mouthed. “ And I'll tell you why?” he hastened to explain. ‘“ Ross Larkey is there alone and with a bunch of women folk, and he’s got to be punished— punished right. If it’s spread around the ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. range that I raided him while he was alone I'll begin to lose my’ rep.” ““There’s some sense to that,” little old Jug Trilles put in. Taurog went on: ‘“ Now I’m goin’ back to Lava—and I’ll set in to a game at cards there while this here fight is goin’ on, and then every one ’ll know that I wasn’t pres- ent. They'll know dam’ well that it was my orders that the ranch gets burned, but they won’t be callin’ me a coward.” “You're right thar,” Jug Trilles said. ‘““Nobody dast call Smoo Taurog a cow- ard.” “But now look here, men.” Taurog raised his voice and pointed to each man. ** Just because I ain’t goin’ into the fight with you don’t mean that you ain’t got a good job afore you. I want Ross Larkey made a example of. Get that? I want his cattle spread all over the country, and I want every shack, pen, cow-shed, and vat on his whole ranch burned to the ground. I’ve got it all fixed up with Sheriff Mat- lock that you won’t get blamed. He’s go- in’ to say that Larkey shot at one of you men for tryin’ to pass through’his cafion. And then the story will go that Jug Trilles follered to argufy with him and got some more shootin’ for a answer. Then we’ll say the nigger here was drunk, an’ started shootin’ back. A fight comes off and Lar- key and his effects gets wiped out. Jug Trilles, you're to lead this“ expedition.” “Tl see that your instructions is car- ried out, chief,” Jug said. “ But if Larkey meets up with any success in buckin’ us I ain’t goin’ to vouch for the Mule City ranchers that are waitin’ for a chance to start a revolution ag’in’ you!”’ “ Jug, all you have to do is to win! Give the women a scare-—you know what I mean—and the baby kid. Damned little brat—he’ll grow up and be after us for what we done to his home—mark my words. That’s what always happens. Kids had orter be shot off quicker than men folks. You can take care of the men folks, but you never know when these damned kids are going to get into long pants and chaps and come tround axin’ you to explain!” Taurog yanked off a hunk of tobacco, revolved it about his mouth, showing dog’s COMmiclboo SS C©